Apparatus for the manufacture of slabs or blocks of plaster, &amp;c.



PATEN'TED AUG.15, 1905.

B. c. smrsom. APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SLABS 0R BLOCKS 0F PLASTER, 5m.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.1'T,1905.

2 SHEETS-EHEET 1.

PATBNTED AUG. 15, 1905.

B. U. SIMPSON" APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFAUTURE 0P SLABS 0R BLOCKS 0F PLAS'IER, 8w.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17,1905.

2 SHEBTS-5HEBT 2.

TTNTTF STATES PATENT OFFICE.

no. ve /315a.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed February 17, 1905. Serial No. 248,137.

To (1, whom/ it may concern:

Be it known that l, BENJAMIN OarsPIN SIMrsoN, member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of @lahs or Blocks of Plaster, Concrete, or other Material, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the molding and manufacture of slabs or blocks of plaster, concrete, or other material for use in the construction of partition-walls in buildings or for other purposes. I provide a mold-box of such dimensions and with as many dividing-partitions as are necessary to mold the size and number of slabs or blocks required to be produced in one molding operation.

The accompanying drawings will more clearly show the details of my invention an the mode of carrying it into effect.

Figure l is a half plan of the machinery or apparatus for molding slabs or blocks in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3, showing the other half of the said machinery or apparatus. Fig. 2 shows a modification. Fig. 3is a sectional elevation on the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

The top or lid a, Figs. 1 and 3, and one end 6 of the mold-box are movable, but may be so connected with the fixed. portion of the said mold-box by hinges a 7/, respectively, or other connectionsthat they may be opened or removed without entirely disconnecting them. The bottom a, side walls I) b, and portions 6 b of the other end of the moldbox are fixed and also the dividing or intermediate partitions p j), which may be parallel to the said side walls and are securely attached to the bottom and the fixed end portion excepting that, if required, they may be capable of a slight lateral movement, as hereinafter described. The said partitions are prefer-' ably solid; but they may, if required, be composed of solid surfaces having an intervening space between them, which may be maintained and regulated by packing or distance pieces 1), which in one position maintain the full space required during the filling of the mold and setting of the slabs and in another position allow the solid surfaces to recede from the surfaces of the slabs, so as to facilitate the expulsion or removal of the said slabs from the mold.

The inner surfaces of the side walls 5 b are faced, as at Zr, with glass, metal, or such other suitable material as will give such smoothness to the surfaces of the molded slabs or blocks as may be required, and the aforesaid dividing-partitions p p are made of solid glass, metal, or other suitable material, or if the space before mentioned be required they are similarly faced with such material.

Inside the fixed portions of the fixed end and normally bearing against them are movable strips 0 of metal or other suitable material adapted to fill the space between two adjacent dividing-partitions or one such partition and the inner face of one of the side walls and forming one end of a chamber or cell of the mold-box. These strips are hereinafter called the plungers. Fitted to each plunger is a rod or shaft m, extending away from the mold-box in a direction perpendicular to the general plane of the rear of the said plungers and which are hereinafter called the plunger-rods. One or more of these rods is or are cut with a screw-thread, as at t t, or with one or more grooves, and the rods so cut are hereinafter called the actuatingrods. Surrounding each of said actuatingrods is a sleeve A, Fig. 3, the inner circumference of which (if the actuating-rod is out with an ordinary screw-thread) is cut with a female screw-thread adapted to gear with the screw-thread on the actuating-rod 2,, and the outer circumference of said sleeve is cut with a worm-thread. The sleeves have their bearings in plates or channel-bars r q, extending across the rear of the mold-box and attached thereto, the sleeves being so held that although they can revolve freely they cannot movein the longitudinal direction of the plunger-rools t. Across the plunger-rod is fitted a shaft or spindle A, hereinafter called the actuating-shaft, which is provided with endless screws or worms ,7, which operate the worm-threads on the outer circumference of each sleeve 7r, said shaft being fitted in bearings attached to the mold-box. The said actuating-shaft A is operated by handles 1. at one or at both ends; but, if required, electric, hydraulic, or other motive power can be applied. The revolution of the actuating-shaft therefore causes the revolution of the sleeves In about the actuating-rods t by means of the worm-threads on the outer circumference of said sleeves, and consequently the longitudinal motion of the actuating-rods, which are so fixed that they cannot revolve, and as all the plunger-rods m are so connected, by means of a slide 77., adapted to run in the side bars n n, that the longitudinal motion of any one bar is communicated to all, the operation of the actuating-shaft 7t causes the plungers 0 to be moved longitudinally through the cells of the mold, and thus effects the expulsion of the slabs or blocks. In order, however, to secure the necessary force to start the propulsion of the slabs or blocks by the plungers 0, the actuating-rods 6 may be cut with one or more screw-grooves of varying pitch, the inclination of the groove being flat at its commencement near the mold-box, but increasing till the required angle of the groove is attained. In this case the interior circumferences of the sleeves are provided with one or more studs, adapted to engage or work in the said grooves instead of being cut with a female screwthread, as above described. Also, if found desirable, some or all of the plunger-rods m may be fitted with suitable cog-wheels operated by racks, by means of which the propulsion of the plunger-rods may be effected.

The process of molding slabs or blocks by means of my invention is as follows: The lid (0, Figs. 1 and 3, is first raised, the movable end '1) remaining closed against the mold-box. The cells or chambers of the mold are then filled with the plaster or other material to be converted into slabs or blocks. The lid is then closed and is screwed down to its proper position by the screw-clamps c 0, vents being provided in the said lid to permit the escape of superfluous material. After sufficient time has elapsed for the setting of the slabsor blocks the removable end Z) is first raised by means of the handles cl (Z, mounted on a shaft d, on which are keyed toothed wheels 6 (2, adapted to gear with racks fixed to the end wall 7), thus causing the wheels 11 e to revolve in the racks e e and raise the end 6 till the catch-bars f f on the end are clear of the catches g g connected to the side walls 7). The said end I) is then let down so as to leave the cells or chambers of the mold-box open for the expulsion of the slabs or blocks. The actuating-shaft h is then operated by the bandles or by such other electric, hydraulic, or other motive power as may be adopted, and the worms 'j, acting on the worm-threads on the outer circumferences of the sleeves is it, cause the revolution of the latter, and consequently the propulsion of the actuating-rods ti, and also the other plunger-rods m m, which are connected with the actuating-rods by the frame 11, thereby propelling the plungers 0 0 through the cells or chambers of the moldbox and expelling the slabs or blocks into any suitable carrier which may be placed at the open side for their reception.

In order to form grooves or chases around the edges of the slabs or blocks, so as to provide for key-bonds in construction, the plunger 0, bottom a, lid a, and movable end I), which form the four walls of each mold cell or chamber, may be furnished with pro ject ing ribs of the section required, but these ribs may be omitted if no such groove or chase is wanted. The surfaces of the side walls and dividing-partitions of the mold may also, if required, be furnished with projections or depressions so as to produce moldings or designs on the slabs or blocks.

It will be understood that, if desired, the position of the molding-machine may be varied, so that the plungers may work upward to expel the slabs at the top or downward to expel them at the bottom instead of laterally, as herein described.

If it is desired to roughen the surfaces of the slabs or blocks, the edges of the dividingpartitions and the faces of the walls nearest the movable end may be serrated to efiect that purpose.

What 1 claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,

1. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, the combination of a mold-box having a displaceable cover and end wall, a plurality of partitions adapted to divide said box into cells, a plurality of plungers each forming an end wall of a cell, and means for collectively moving said plungers endwise of the cells to eject the finished slabs substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, the combination of a mold-box having a displaceable cover and end wall, means for securing said cover, a plurality of relatively fixed partitions adapted to divide said box into longitudinal cells, a plurality of plungers each forming an end wall of a cell, rearwardly-extending rods connected to each of said plungers, and means for collectively propelling said rods to cause the plungers to move enclw'ise of the cells to eject the finished slabs, substantially as described.

3. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, the combination of a mold-box having a displaceable cover and end Wall, means for securing said cover, means for displacing said end wall, a plurality of partitions adapted to divide said box into longitudinal cells, a plurality of plungers each forming an end wall of a cell, rearwardly-extending rods connected to each of said plungers, means for rigidly connecting all said rods, and means for propelling the latter to cause the plungers to eject the finished slabs from the cells subtantially as described.

a. In apparatus for the purpose set forth the combination of a mold-box having a displaceable cover and end wall means for securing said cover, means for displacing said end wall, a plurality of relatively fixed adjustable partitions adapted to divide said box into longitudinal cells, a plurality of plungers each forming an end wall of a cell, rearwardly-extending non-rotatable rods connected to each vsmss of said plungers, a slide rigidly connecting all said rods and Worm-gear for propelling the latter to cause the plunger-s to eject the finished slabs from the cells aforesaid substantially as described.

5. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, the combination of a mold-box having a displaceable cover and end Wall, means for securing said cover and end Wall, means for displacing the latter, a plurality of relatively fixed adjustable partitions adapted to divide said box into longitudinal cells, a plurality of plungers each forming an end wall of a cell, rearwardly-extending non-rotatable rods connected to each of said plungers, a slide rigidly connecting all said rods, screw-threads on certain of said rods, interiorly-threaded rotatable sleeves surrounding and engaging said screw-threads, Worm-teeth on the exterior of said sleeves, Worms meshing with said worm teeth, and means for rotating said Worms, substantially as described.

6. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, the combination of a mold-box having a displaceable cover and end Wall and aplurality of partitions adapted to divide said box into longitudinal cells, said partitions being adjustable as to Width substantially as described.

7 In apparatus for the purpose set forth the combination of a mold-box having a displaceable cover and end wall a plurality of partitions adapted todivide said box into longiudinal cells, and adjustable as to Width, a plurality of plungers each forming an end wall of a cell, and means for moving said plungers in the cells to eject the finished slabs therefrom substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

B. (J. SIMPSON.

Witnesses:

H. I. HADDAN, A. J. HADDAN. 

